After a splendid 25th Anniversary evening in Glasgow Science Centre when First Minister Alex Salmond addressed a large number of members, Glasgow South Business Club is going back to plainer fare on Tuesday 17 April 2012. Their regular monthly meeting will be held that day in the Ibrox Suite at Ibrox Stadium at 12 noon when members and their guests will be networking. For full details check their website: www.glasgowsouthbusinessclub.co.uk

It is scary to switch off the car engine when sitting at traffic lights. But that’s what I was advised to do this week. If I did that at those lights where I know it will take ages for them to change and adopted a few other tips from professional driving instructor Denise Shepherd, then she calculated I’d save £250 a year off my fuel bills.

Drive With Confidence tutor Denise is one of the people involved in bringing home to drivers not only ways to save money by saving fuel, but also how this helps the planet by cutting carbon emissions.

In Denise’s own vehicle, which has duel control; I drove round the same circuit of city roads, twice.

My first foray showed on the monitor on her dashboard that I’d consumed fuel at a rate of 43.4 miles per gallon. On the second round that has improved to 45.2 miles per gallon.

‘Slow down when approaching lights,’ was the main message from Denise who operates generally around the Falkirk, Cumbernauld, Airdrie areas.

This was a preview for those people who’ve signed up for a similar Fuel Efficient Driving (FED) experience tomorrow and Sunday (22 and 23 October 2011) at the Glasgow Science Centre.

Over the next two months teams of people with similar professional background to Denise, will be explaining this to individual drivers in a personal training session. Most sessions cost £40, but early birds can save some money on this too if they get one of the £12 sessions of 50 minutes.

Said Energy Saving Trust transport manager Ian Murdoch: ‘Fuel Efficient Driving not only leaves you with more cash in your pocket but also a smaller carbon footprint. I urge anyone living in Glasgow to pop along this weekend to Glasgow Science Centre to find out a bit more. For anyone who can’t make it, give us a ring and we can book you onto a Fuel Efficient Driver Training Session. It’s amazing how people can save fuel and money by adopting a slightly different driving technique.’

Sign up on Saturday or Sunday or contact Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 to book a session.

By approaching traffic lights more slowly you are in a lower gear and so saving fuel. It also means the traffic behind has to slow down too which is an unexpected safety bonus. Anticipating road conditions and other road users’ moves, allows you to drive more smoothly. Rather than last minute braking, decelerate smoothly by easing off on the accelerator as early as possible. This allows the car to decelerate using engine braking. With the car in gear and the accelerator released, a modern car uses virtually no fuel at all. This form of braking is also gentler on the car and its occupants.

The Energy Saving Scotland advice network aims to reach 250,000 people every year and can be contacted for free impartial advice on: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland

Dogs Trust Glasgow is appealing to the city’s dog lovers to donate, raffle and tombola prizes for their annual Christmas fair, which will be held on Sunday 28 November at their Hamilton Road Centre.

Dog’s Trust is UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 16,000 stray or abandoned dogs through 17 rehoming centres.

The family-friendly festive fair will be open from 12 noon until 3.30pm. Highlights include a raffle to win 4 passes to the Glasgow Science Centre and Dogs Trust items signed by the actor and singer John Barrowman. They’ll be Christmas gifts and craft stalls, a visit from ‘Santa Paws’ and festive refreshments. Admission is free and donations of tinned food, towels and blankets will be very welcomed on the day.

Dogs Trust Glasgow Rehoming Centre Manager, Sandra Downie, said: ‘We’re lucky to have received some great donations already but we urgently need more good quality prizes for our raffle and tombola.

‘If you have any unwanted Christmas or birthday gifts lurking in your attic please consider donating them to help us raise money for homeless dogs this Christmas.’
For more information about the fair or if you have a donation please contact Supporter Relations Officer Vicky Kelly on 0141 773 5141.
If you are interested in rehoming a rescue dog call the centre on 0141 773 5130 or visit at Dogs Trust Glasgow, 315 Hamilton Road, Glasgow, G71 7SL.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and pupils from Knightswood Primary School study life of the Clyde

Ten thousand young Glaswegians have learned about the River Clyde, its diverse wildlife and its part as the heart of our city’s history and industry.
The school pupils from across Glasgow and Strathclyde have been taking part in the Clyde In the Classroom programme. Now in its tenth year, the scheme teaches young people to respect and protect their river. It is run by the Clyde River Foundation, in partnership with the Glasgow Science Centre.
More than 1,400 people attended the January events at the Science Centre. Pupils from 50 schools have been given trout eggs to incubate in their classroom hatcheries. Organisers and pupils hope that within seven weeks the trout fry will be ready for returning to the Clyde and the burns.
Clyde in the Classroom is supported and funded by Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Government, plus local authorities, charitable grant awarding bodies, angling clubs and companies throughout the region.
The scheme has also received a £10,000 boost from BAE Systems’ Surface Ships education outreach programme, which will help to secure the project for the next two years.
Deputy First Minister and Govan MSP, Nicola Sturgeon, commented: ‘I’m delighted to support this innovative and very worthwhile project. Ten thousand pupils have already benefited from this experience, and I hope that many more school pupils will be able to learn about the ecology of the Clyde in future.’
Dr Willie Yeomans of the Clyde River Foundation, said: ‘When Clyde in the Classroom began nine years ago we had five schools registered on the programme, this has now increased to a remarkable total of 245 this year. The main purpose of Clyde in the Classroom is to get young people involved and engaged with the natural environment, so to welcome the 10,000th pupil to the project is a fantastic achievement for all those involved.’

Editor's Corner

Mhairi Black, MP made the House of Commons sit up and listen in a way few maiden speeches have done. She spoke honestly and from real, personal, knowledge. That is probably a pointer to other MPs of all parties – speak the truth, speak from genuine experience and don’t hesitate to say where you stand. […]